The Virginian-Pilot
©
Kites of all colors, shapes and sizes will adorn the skies over the Virginia Beach Oceanfront and Portsmouth's City Park this weekend as the Atlantic Coast Kite Festival takes off.
The high-flying weekend officially opens Friday at the KITE NIGHT: Open House Kick-off Celebration at Portsmouth's Courthouse Galleries for entertainment and viewing of its exhibit of kites from around the world. The creations represent fish, birds, people, dogs, airplanes, cartoon characters, butterflies and flies. One of the mini kites is the size of a fly. And yes, it can fly.
Kite fliers from Florida to New York are expected Saturday in Virginia Beach and Sunday in Portsmouth, where there will also be demonstrations, kite building workshops and vendors. The festival started in Virginia Beach in 2004. Last year's, held in April, was snowed out.
"If it's good weather, we expect 2,000 to 3,000 people at the Virginia Beach event," said Christopher Stankus, vice president of Jackite Inc. The Virginia Beach-based business has been selling bird kites and wind socks for 20 years and had its "Dove of Peace" kites fly over the opening ceremonies at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta.
Stankus, who helped put together the first kite festival, has been a leader in involving Portsmouth this year. He expects a big turnout for both kite-flying events.
High points, Stankus said, include precision kite flying demonstrations and children's classes on building and flying kites.
"There will be some huge kites flying," he said. "Some up to thousands of square feet including a huge octopus, lobster and sting ray. Kite flying is fun for all ages. It relaxes the mind."
Roy Bahls, (757) 446-2351, roy.bahls@pilotonline.com
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
